Moments of Musing

NYC Father’s Day Getaway

Filed Under: Marriage, travel //

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city
This post is sponsored by The Gregory Hotel but all opinions are my own. 

Over the weekend my husband and I stayed at The Gregory Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. I was really nervous because R is still nursing so I wasn’t sure he would do well at bedtime and throughout the night without having me there. Luckily, he and S stayed with my parents so there wasn’t much sadness from the boys. Plus, it was only one night. R did great, and my husband and I really enjoyed our time together. I am so glad we went through with this! (We usually opt to stay in when given the option.)

My husband and I always say we have to get out alone more but our last date night was 6 months ago so this night away was much-needed and overdue. Even though it was just one night we got to both do quite a bit and also relax. We got to enjoy leisurely walks hand-in-hand, meals and each other’s presence…cheesy but something that doesn’t happen all too often. We also got the comfortable bed to ourselves and got uninterrupted sleep. 
A stay at The Gregory Hotel would make for a great treat for your special guy for Father’s Day!

The Gregory features comfortable, spacious rooms, including robes for lounging. There is a fitness center and a bar and grill, which you can get to through a doorway by the elevators. Established in 1903, it has a rich history. There are original aspects still in tact, as well as menus and photos from that time period on display. 

Best of all, in my opinion, is its central location (and competitive rates!). Located on West 35th Street right off Herald Square and just blocks from the Empire State Building, it is in the middle of everything. While there my husband and I only took the subway once to ensure we made it in time for our dinner reservation. We walked to and from Times Square and Bryant Park on 42nd Street, and back from dinner at ABC Kitchen (highly recommend!) on East 18th.

There is so much to do near the hotel, as well as in other areas of Manhattan and NYC. From the Bronx Zoo to Central Park to Coney Island there is something to do in each borough. Be sure to kick off your summer in a great way and  book your tailor-made stay at The Gregory Hotel for the special guy in your life this Father’s Day!


Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel
Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city
Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city

Summer 2019 Vacation Destination

Filed Under: travel with kids //

This post is sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA but all opinions are my own.

Vacation, family vacation, travel with kids, travel with baby, florida, Visit Florida, floridian, Florida vacation, Disney vacation


By now you might have realized that we love to travel.  Over the years we have traveled abroad (honeymoon | “annimoon“), throughout the country and here in New York. One thing my husband and I knew when we had kids was that we wanted to take them along with us on our travels as much as possible.  While traveling with kids makes traveling more complex it also makes it more memorable. We love that we are helping them build traveling memories of their own From young ages. We also recognize that sometimes we just all need a break kids included. 


This summer we are headed back to a place we went a couple of years ago.  We are excited for R to make his very first memories at Walt Disney World and for S to return and make memories that he possibly will remember. 

We are planning on a bit of an extended vacation in Florida and we are planning to visit a new city this time. As you might or might not know my first time visiting Florida was when I was 11 months (see photo of me I yellow bathing suit above)  old. I’ve been many times since so I have been well over 20 times. Yet each time I visit, I am experience new things and activities and I make new memories. 
It’s become pretty clear to me that no matter how many times a visit I can always experience a first. That’s what makes Florida so great to me and why we hope to continue visiting throughout the years.



Raising Dreamers

Filed Under: dreams, motherhood //

Dreams.

They  can give us hope. They can give us happiness. They can tell us not all is lost. 


I saw that poem written on the “Dreams Take Flight” mural painted in downtown State College while visiting Penn State recently. Those lines stood out to me. 


You see, I’m a dreamer and by dreamer, I mean I tend to dream BIG. I have so many things on my list of goals I’d love to accomplish. Some are totally doable; some I’ve already accomplished; and some are huge, risky and uncertain. 

When I became a mom, my biggest goal was the be more present in my kids’ lives. Throughout the years, I have worked my tail off to be able to build my brand, as well as my reputation at work. And now, I feel like I have a pretty healthy work-life experience. (I don’t say work-life balance because it is not a reality for me). 

I want to show my boys it’s okay (and even good) to have dreams, to dream big. And that no age is too young or too old to be a dreamer. In fact, I think having dreams will make them happier. 

A recent Psychology Today study found an increase in optimistic thinking among kids who created dreams for themselves. 


As for my toddler, his dreams currently include being a firefighter, police office and doctor. (He LOVES going to the doctor.) I have brought him to work with me a few times to show him around my office and provide a snapshot of what I do while I am away from him. He can now identify when I am at work and knows I take the train to work in Manhattan. 

I also want to show the boys that you must work hard and pursue your dreams in order for them to materialize. I hope to show them that dreams can come true because they’ve seen their dad and I accomplish our goals, and live out our dreams. 

Of course, I hope I can help make their dreams come true. After all, they made my #1 dream of being a mom a reality.

Happy Pride Month, Baby Bro

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Brother, sister, siblings, pride month, coming out, lgbt, ally,
Note: This was written with my brother’s consent since, after all, he is the owner of his story. It is important to be mindful not to identify anyone when divulging parts of their story, without their consent. It is never okay to out someone who hasn’t themselves done so, or who wishes for it to remain private. 

Everyone meet my best friend, my brother. He’s also my brotog, advance team, and provides creative feedback for my Instagram. #truestorylol It helps that he’s in the ad/communications industry. We are 6.5 years apart but have always been close. He’s picked me up (literally) when I’ve been at some of my lowest points and I hope he can say the same (figuratively speaking lol) about me. 

Right before he came out to me and my husband a few years ago, he was bawling. My heart dropped because I was expecting something bad…

Then, he told us his news. And I was literally RELIEVED. I didn’t love or view him any differently — how could I?? 

My hope is that if someone you love comes out to you – be it this month or anytime- that you are there for them with an open heart, open mind and open arms, and that you continue to be an ally to them. 


According to The Trevor Project, LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth. Those  who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection. 

So, please be kind. 
Practice empathy. 
Choose love.
Lou, I love you and wish everyone could have a “you” in their life. You’ve certainly made mine so much better by being in it. 
Brother, sister, siblings, pride month, coming out, lgbt, ally,

Quick Summertime Meal Hack

Filed Under: cooking //

This post is sponsored by NewAir but all opinions are my own. 

Now that Memorial Day has passed, the summer has unofficially started. We kicked it off at my alma mater Penn State for a low key weekend in Central Pennsylvania. It was a lot of fun making new memories with my husband and kids in a town that’s near and dear to my heart. 

My to-do list was pretty long the evening prior to going away. I had to pack, clean up the house, do laundry (but let’s be honest-folding did not happen), and cook dinner. I’m trying to use the microwave less but I didn’t have too much time for dinner so I was a bit stuck until I remembered our new Magic Chef Air Fryer! I used the air fryer to cook sweet potato fries. I was able to do so within just about 8 minutes! The cleanup was simple and quick, too. I just washed the basket parts and let them air-dry.
  

The air fryer is a 7 Quart Digital Air Fryer, perfect for healthy cooking, and has a dishwasher safe basket. It also comes with a free recipe book that I’ll be using for dinner ideas. 
Some of the dishes I’m most excited to try are the chicken fajitas and enchilada casserole. To be honest, I never knew an air fryer could be used to quickly and efficiently cook such seemingly elaborate dinners!
  

You can purchase your own Magic Chef® 3.7 Quart Digital Air Fryer, Healthy Cooking, Dishwasher Safe Basket with Free Recipe Book at https://www.newair.com/products/magic-chef%C2%AE-3-7-quart-digital-air-fryer-healthy-cooking-dishwasher-safe-basket-with-free-recipe-book?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=Momentsofmusing&utm_campaign=MCAF37DB. **Use code MM20 for 20% off!**

It will help you get meals onto the table quickly so you can spend most of your summertime outside enjoying the weather and not inside cooking for hours.